By: Christian Esparza

1. Tee Higgins ”“ Cincinnati Bengals (WR 11, ADP 32)

Higgins finished 2021 as WR24 overall, bolstered by a 43.4 performance in week 16 against a decimated Ravens secondary. Higgins is a good wide receiver, don’t get me wrong. But for him to be drafted as WR11 feels incredibly rich. There is no sense in drafting someone this high who is not even the WR1 on his own team. 

2. Jaylen Waddle ”“ Miami Dolphins (WR 16, ADP 44)

Waddle put together a sneaky-good rookie season last year in which he averaged over 15 ppr points per game. Especially through his mid-season tear, Waddle was a true weapon for Miami. Things look a lot different for Waddle with the Dolphins having traded for Tyreek Hill, a player who does a lot of the same things Waddle does. To make matters worse, Miami’s new head coach Mike McDaniel will be implementing his offense from last year’s 49ers team. That scheme saw San Francisco pass the ball on just 51% of their plays ”“ 29th in the league. It’s hard to imagine the Dolphins supporting two top-20 receivers with this type of offense, especially with Tua Tagovailoa at quarterback. 

3. DK Metcalf ”“ Seattle Seahawks (WR 19, ADP 51.5)

Does this one really depend on who takes the starting snaps in Week 1, Geno Smith or Drew Lock? The funny thing is, Metcalf actually had his best stretch of games when Smith was under center last year replacing an injured Russell Wilson. Over those four games, Metcalf averaged over 19 points per game. Lock of course comes in from the Denver Broncos, where he has notoriously struggled the past two seasons. But again, we don’t know who is going to be Seattle’s starting quarterback. If things were that easy, Head Coach Pete Carroll would have committed to someone by now with Week 1 less than two weeks away. Instead, Carroll commented that he does not feel the need to name a starter, even by the team’s final preseason game on Friday, Aug. 26. The bottom line is: be careful with DK Metcalf. 

4. Chris Godwin ”“ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (WR 25, ADP 71)

As noted in an earlier article, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers feel weird this year. Quarterback Tom Brady just returned from an 11-day absence that was revealed to be a pre-planned vacation to the Bahamas with his family. This means the Bucs had to go throughout a large chunk of their camp without QB1. As far as Godwin goes, he is recovering from a torn ACL suffered in January. Although things are looking good for Godwin to be back on the field by the start of the regular season, Godwin will not be 100%. Simply due to the nature of the injury, it may take an additional season for Godwin to truly return to form. There is a very good chance he does not finish the season as a top-24 receiver. 

5. Kenny Golladay ”“ New York Giants (WR 53, ADP 141)

Since signing a four-year, $72 million dollar contract in 2021, Golladay has been one of the biggest disappointments in the NFL. Golladay didn’t even crack 90 total fantasy points last year as he just did not seem to fit in with the New York Giants and quarterback Daniel Jones. That seems to be the case again this year, as reports out of training camp make it sound like Golladay has been less than impressive. He is listed as a starting wide receiver on the depth chart, but that could change as the season goes on. At his ADP, you would have much better luck taking a swing on an impressive rookie like George Pickens or Romeo Doubs. 

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By: Jake Rajala

The New York Giants (4-13 in 2021) desperately need help from a few underachieving profiles on their roster. With that said, I’m going to untwine three overrated Giants at this moment.

Kenny Golladay

The New York Giants inked Kenny Golladay to a four-year contract worth $72 million last off-season. It’s safe to say that Golladay hasn’t lived up to expectations — as he unveiled 521 yards and 0 touchdowns in 2021. Giants Wire pointed out how Golladay was the Giants worst contract. It will be quite difficult for Daniel Jones to oust a career season without a motivated, in-sync Kenny Golladay moving forward.

Leonard Williams

Leonard Williams needs to return to being a star in the Big Apple. After an impressive 11.5 sack season in 2020, he only mustered out 6.5 sacks in 2021. Williams has expressed that there’s positive energy around the locker room and it’s obvious that DC Don Martindale will get the blood boiling for the entire team. Hopefully, the energized Williams can wreak havoc with the rook Kavyon Thibodeaux in 2022.

Jon Feliciano

The Giants have rising talent with Andrew Thomas, a strong face in Mark Glowisinki, and the shiny Evan Neal. The Giants OL should make noticeably progress from last season and it will be refreshing for the Giants QB-RB duo to witness a more impressive OL in the Big Apple. Although, it’s unclear how productive Jon Feliciano will be in a Giants uniform. He recorded a mediocre 56.7 grade by PFF last season. It will be vital that he can be consistent and not a weak link on the new-look OL.

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By Calvin K (Twitter: @Calvin_SGF)

The 2021 fantasy season has officially wrapped up, and it’s never too early to look ahead to 2022. The fantasy “sleeper” is something that many argue no longer exists given the massive amount of fantasy resources available in today’s landscape. However, the three guys in this article are players who will likely be undervalued heading into next year. Below are three “sleeper” wide receivers to target in 2022.

1. Rashod Bateman (Baltimore Ravens)

Bateman is a prime candidate for a Year 2 breakout, and while he’s coming off of an inconsistent Year 1, much of his rocky play hasn’t entirely been his fault. The loss of Lamar Jackson and Bateman’s early-season injury certainly hasn’t helped Baltimore’s passing game, and while Bateman is in a crowded receiving room along with Marquise Brown and Mark Andrews, there’s reason to believe his target share could ascend in Year 2.

Bateman missed the first five games of the regular season, a stint that has certainly been a hindrance to his NFL development, but since then, he garnered six or more targets in seven of his last eleven games, a testament to his ability to get open, especially on slants and short crossing routes. Bateman’s excellent separation ability along with his open-field speed allow him to be a big-play threat on any given snap, and his Year 1 17-game pace of 99 targets should only improve in 2022 as he grows and develops.

Bateman’s fantasy numbers were somewhat inconsistent, but he only had one touchdown this season, a number that will also rise given his abilities. As Lamar Jackson gains trust with his speedy receiver, they could develop a playmaking rapport potentially exceeding that of Jackson and Marquise Brown, elevating Bateman to a juicy role as the Ravens’ number two target. If he reaches that spot, he’d be well worth a selection at his likely late-round ADP, and at a low price, the minimal risk he carries is far outweighed by what could be top-24 WR potential next year.

2. Josh Palmer (Los Angeles Chargers)

Palmer, the Chargers’ 3rd round draft pick this year, has flashed in spots this year, but he mostly seems to have been written off in redraft circles at this point. Palmer’s late-round value is heavily dependent, however, on a Mike Williams exit, as Williams broke out this year but could now head to free agency. If Williams leaves LA, that could leave an opening for Palmer to be Justin Herbert’s #2 wide receiver, a spot that could pay big dividends for his fantasy numbers.

Palmer has certainly been inconsistent this year due to a limited role, but he started to show out at times later in the season. Palmer picked up 19 targets in the final four weeks of the fantasy season (Weeks 14-17), catching 14 of them for 140 yards and two touchdowns. Those numbers are far from stellar, but they’re certainly a step in the right direction, and proof that Palmer has developed since entering the NFL. I’d expect Palmer to take a solid Year 2 jump if Williams exits LA, making him well worth a selection in the late rounds of your drafts.

3. Kenny Golladay (New York Giants)

Yes, yes, I know that despite all of the preseason hype I gave him, Golladay finished as the fantasy WR81, an atrocious performance for someone being paid $18 million a year to dominate on the Giants. I will admit that this year’s performance caused me to drastically reevaluate this Giants offense as a whole, as I was a full-on proponent of Golladay in fantasy heading into the season. However, there are still reasons to be hopeful for improvement next year, and so I still feel there’s a case that he, at the very least, has potential for somewhat of a bounce-back year.

Golladay’s 2020 season was cut short by injuries, but he put up back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in 2018 and 2019, and at 28 years old, it’s doubtful that he lost all of his football ability. Golladay at his best is an amazing contested-catch receiver who uses his 6’4″, 214 pound frame to win 50 50 balls downfield. If he can get more involved in the offense, the big plays should start rolling in for him.

With Daniel Jones likely back for another year, the Giants should try to get Golladay much more involved so that his contract isn’t wasted, and they’ll likely encourage Jones, a solid downfield passer, to take more chances to get the ball to his star receiver. Golladay may not return to peak form next year, but his price is likely to land him at the tail end of fantasy drafts, a spot where you should be more than willing to take a guy with potential – if somewhat unlikely – WR2 upside.

The post Fantasy: Three sleeper WRs for 2022 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Adam Hulse (@AdamHulseSports)

The entire month of August, as well as the beginning of September, is prime time for fantasy football drafts as the 2021 NFL season quickly approaches. Draft day is by far the most important day of the entire fantasy football season because it plays the biggest role in determining which teams will be competing for a championship. It’s very important to enter the draft with a clear strategy based on personal research and preparation of all the available options. It’s crucial to have some idea of both players to target as well as players to avoid. Based on their current ADP in redraft leagues, here are 3 WRs to avoid when it comes time to make a selection.

1. Kenny Golladay, New York Giants

For the first time in his career, Kenny Golladay hit the open free-agent market this offseason. Ultimately, he decided to leave the Detroit Lions and join the New York Giants for the 2021 NFL season. From his perspective as a professional and competitor, this is an excellent career move. He upgraded to a better team with more of a chance to win while also scoring himself a huge contract. On the other, from a fantasy football perspective, it hurts his projected production for a couple of reasons. He has downgraded from Matthew Stafford to Daniel Jones at quarterback, will now be in a run first style of offense, and will get less garbage time production than he did with the Lions who were often trailing big in games.

Besides the situational decline of changing teams, another red flag for Golladay was his injury-plagued 2020 season. He was only able to appear in five games and recorded 20 receptions on 32 targets for 338 yards and two touchdowns. The reason he was given such a big contract were his highly productive seasons in 2018 and 2019 where he eclipsed 100 targets and 1000 receiving yards in both years. All things considered with where he is now, it’s not likely that he will fully return to those totals this season. It’s also important to point out that last season the Giants ranked 29th in the NFL in passing offense at 189.1 yards per game while the Lions ranked 10th at 256.5 yards per game.

These are all signs that point to regression from Golladay in terms of fantasy production. He can still turn out to be a solid player for the Giants, and the true number one WR that they have been missing, but that does not mean it will translate to big fantasy points, especially with Saquon Barkley returning from injury and commanding a ton of touches. Golladay is a WR to avoid at his current ADP where there are other options in better situations with more upside. Some examples would be players like DJ Moore and Tyler Lockett.

2. Odell Beckham Jr, Cleveland Browns

The biggest concern for Odell Beckham Jr heading into the 2021NFL season is his recovery from ACL surgery. This is one of the most difficult injuries to bounce back from and WR is one of the most challenging positions to do it from. Health is always a major risk when it comes to fantasy football. In particular, it is a huge factor when looking at players with high ADP because that is the core of the team being constructed. Losing one of the first few drafted players on a particular team can derail an entire season. That’s not to say that Odell can’t fully bounce back, because he absolutely can, but it’s just always something to keep in mind on draft day.

The knee injury is not the only concern that comes with Odell and his high ADP. In the seven games that he did play in the 2020 season, he was not as productive as his usual self. He recorded 23 receptions on 43 targets for 319 yards and and 3 touchdowns. The target average is something to be aware of as it dipped from over 8 per game in 2019 to just about 6 per game in 2020. A big reason for this is the run heavy style of offense implemented by new head coach Kevin Stefanski. The Browns ranked third in the NFL last season in rushing offense at 148.4 yards per game which is a huge increase from their 118.8 rushing yards per game in 2019 before Stefanski arrived.

Considering the drastic change in offensive scheme, the deduction in targets per game, and the difficult injury situation all qualify Odell as a WR to avoid in fantasy drafts this season. He still may have a very productive season and could be a really nice pick up if he falls later in the draft, but given his current ADP there are safer options as well as ones with much more potential to possibly have huge years. Some of these types of WRs in this spot include Chase Claypool and Brandon Aiyuk.

3. Tyler Boyd, Cincinnati Bengals

Now entering his sixth season with the Bengals, Tyler Boyd has been a very productive WR in recent years. He really broke out in in the 2018 season with 76 receptions on 108 targets for 1028 yards and seven touchdowns. He then followed that up in 2019 with another impressive season of 90 receptions on 148 targets for 1046 yards and five touchdowns. He then saw a slight dip in production in the 2020 season but still totaled a solid 79 receptions on 110 targets for 841 yards and four touchdowns. This is an excellent three year run that would usually make him a safe target in fantasy drafts, but there are some red flags.

The biggest concern for Boyd and his projected production is the fact that the Bengals used their first round draft pick on WR Ja’Marr Chase out of LSU, where he and QB Joe Burrow developed a special chemistry. He is expected to be featured heavily in this offense as a weapon of choice for Burrow. In addition to Chase is the break out rookie star from last season in WR Tee Higgins. He had one of the best rookie WR seasons in the NFL last year and his usage will almost definitely start to increase as he continues to grow as a player. Finally, star running back Joe Mixon was only able to play in six games last year so now that he is returning for the 2021 NFL season he will go back to getting a large number of touches as he usually does.

The arrival of Chase, the break out of Higgins, and the return of Mixon are three things that create a recipe for a possible huge let down season for Boyd. The Bengals are not exactly a high-powered offense, at least not yet, and there just may be too many mouths to feed to justifiably carve out a huge role for Boyd. It is highly unlikely that he would be featured more than Chase or Higgins and this offense is probably not anywhere near the level that is good enough to fully support three WRs from a fantasy football perspective. Rather than Boyd, there are much better options with similar ADP who are in better offensive situations with more upside and likelihood for a higher usage rate. Some candidates here include Antonio Brown and Jerry Jeudy.

The post 3 WRs to Avoid in Fantasy Football Redraft appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Jeremy Trottier

The New York Giants have had a very impressive offseason, bringing in a lot of new members to the team and really improving it in all facets.  The Giants also only missed the playoffs last season by one game, and even though they were in a notoriously weak 2020 NFC East, they were still able to be in that position with rather lackluster receiving options and lacked depth.  In this article, I will be going over three reasons the New York Giants can return to the playoffs for the first time since 2016.

Hugely Improved Roster

As I previously mentioned, the Giants have made some significant improvements to their roster and 

have really given Daniel Jones every single opportunity to succeed in the 2021-2022 season.  The most notable two additions for Jones will be Kenny Golladay and Kadarius Toney, who both bring some elite separation factor to the roster, granted in different ways.  Toney reminds me of almost an Alvin Kamara of sorts in terms of how insanely elusive he is, obviously not that level of playmaker yet but his shifts and lateral agility are absolutely off the charts.  Having a short-range receiver like that who can turn five yards into 25 is massive.  

Outside these two additions they also brought in players like Azeez Ojulari and Elerson Smith to help the linebacking front, Rodarius Williams for CB depth and even potential to start eventually, and OL depth in Jake Burton and Raymond Johnson III.  It is also notable that they will have a returning Xavier McKinney for a full season of play potentially and his young capabilities should sure up an already solid secondary.

Daniel Jones is Ready for the Next Step

One of the most notable things in the NFL is when quarterbacks really learn the NFL landscape and make the jump from solid to good.  Josh Allen did it last season (year three), Baker Mayfield really improved from season two to season three, even players like Ryan Tannehill improved extremely when getting more weapons around them, in his case a new system and team. 

Daniel Jones did have a relatively down year in 2020, no doubt, throwing almost as many TDs as interceptions and less than 3000 yards, however, who can blame him?  When your primary receiving threats are a not yet developed Darius Slayton, Sterling Shephard who has been mediocre and struggles with separation, and Evan Engram who despite being a Pro-Bowler last season really has trouble holding onto the ball, you are bound to have issues passing.  Also take note he did not have Saquon Barkley out of the backfield to pitch to when he was under pressure.  With that said, he has the weapons, he has a somewhat developing O-line, and a phenomenal defense to get him the ball back.  He should perform at a new high level in 2021 based on all of this.

The NFC East is”¦Interesting

Finally, we take a look at the surrounding teams, all of which have huge deals of question marks.  Starting with the Dallas Cowboys, who yes, should be contending for the playoffs, however, this is provided Dak Prescott is actually able to play at the high level he did previously, and the injury did not change him heavily.  Even if so, the Cowboys did go 2-3 prior to Dak’s injury last season, and one game was pure because the Atlanta Falcons had a miscue on special teams.  

Then you have the Washington Football Team, who yes are also primed to make a playoff push potentially.  With that said, again, is their QB a set thing?  Ryan Fitzpatrick did do well with the Miami Dolphins, but this is a completely different offense, and many forget Fitz was not extraordinary and consistent with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers not too long ago.  The WFT also are missing strength along the O-line to protect Fitz, and could definitely use some more in terms of secondary depth and potentially even another CB.  

Finally, the Philadelphia Eagles, who most have written off as the bottom team in this division right now, as they are mainly banking on Jalen Hurts and Devonta Smith to push this team forward.  With a continually aging offensive line, a relatively dismantled defense outside a few players like Fletcher Cox and Darius Slay, they really look like they will struggle unless something sparks heavily.

The post Why the New York Giants can contend for playoffs appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By Calvin K (Twitter: @Calvin_SGF)

Fantasy drafts will soon be upon us, and the beginning of July marks the time for committed fantasy players to begin draft preparation. As always, the ins and outs of this year’s ADP (average draft position) have dominated the discussion, and while consensus rankings usually do a good job of valuing players, there are always many who are being underrated (and overrated) in fantasy drafts. In this article, I’ll be giving my opinions on just that. Below are my top five fantasy value picks for 2021.

5. John Brown (WR, Las Vegas Raiders)

What if I told you that the clear #1 WR for a team is ranked as the WR58 in the FantasyPros ECR? You wouldn’t believe me, right? Well, just look at where Raiders WR John Brown is currently ranked. I currently have Brown 14 spots ahead of that ranking, a much more fitting spot for a player who produced upper-tier-WR2 numbers in Buffalo just two years ago.

Last year, Brown was still good when healthy, but he struggled mightily with injuries, and the presence of Stefon Diggs in the Bills’ offense was a slight damper on Brown’s opportunity potential. Now, he has signed a contract to be the presumed WR1 in Vegas, a team that desperately needs help at the position after the first-year flops of Henry Ruggs and Bryan Edwards. Those players still have some potential and shouldn’t be completely written off, but the receiver you should want in that offense is the 31-year-old Brown, who has already had success as the number one wide receiver in an offense.

Two years ago in Buffalo, Brown caught 72 passes for 1,060 yards and six touchdowns in 15 games played, finishing as the WR15 in Weeks 1-16. Brown is an explosive receiver who is good at catching deep balls, so if he stays healthy, he could certainly put up similar numbers again. Raiders QB Derek Carr isn’t the greatest player ever by any means, but he definitely isn’t terrible, and Brown put up those 2019 numbers with an inconsistent Josh Allen, who had just a 58.8% completion percentage that year. Even if you don’t think Brown has the potential of two years ago, his current WR58 price is just way too low, and he should be a must-add in all fantasy drafts because of it.

4. Marvin Jones (WR, Jacksonville Jaguars)

Jones slots in at WR48 on FantasyPros, making him yet another WR1 in an offense who is ranked too low. I have Jones ranked as my WR38, and I believe that, like Brown, he has the potential to be a WR2 in fantasy.

Jones was actually the fantasy WR5 from Weeks 7-17, and he showed during that stretch that he could handle a WR1 workload with Kenny Golladay out. Even if you remove Week 17 (he had 11 catches for 180 yards and two touchdowns that week), he only drops to the WR10 in that stretch. Now, he joins a Jacksonville team that has recently received a major QB upgrade in the form of Trevor Lawrence.

Fellow Jags WR D.J. Chark has struggled since his breakout at the beginning of 2019, and while slot WR Laviska Shenault is talented, he hasn’t proven that he can have success as a target hog like Jones did in 2020. Jones will have the best opportunity out of the three to gain an immediate connection with Lawrence, an opportunity that he will deserve given his past production. Jones has been consistently underrated in fantasy for years now, but now that he’s shown off his true potential, he may be in his most undervalued spot yet in 2021.

3. DeVonta Smith (WR, Philadelphia Eagles)

The reasoning behind the pick of Smith (the FantasyPros WR40) is very similar to the rationale behind selecting Marvin Jones and John Brown at their respective values. However, Smith may have the highest potential of them all, due to the enormous availability of targets in Philadelphia.

In Vegas, Brown will still have to compete with superstar TE Darren Waller for opportunities, and like I said before, Henry Ruggs and Bryan Edwards shouldn’t be completely written off. In Jacksonville, Jones is competing with two other receivers who, while unproven or inconsistent, have shown flashes of being good in the NFL. Smith, who was selected with the #10 overall pick in this year’s NFL draft, has virtually no competition for targets, and therefore has the ceiling of an alpha WR in Year 1.

Smith, who is currently my fantasy WR30, has all the traits necessary to be an alpha for Jalen Hurts. His route-running, field awareness, and hands are all excellent, and he should mesh immediately with an Eagles team that needs major help at the WR position. His size is a concern for some, but Smith was the first wide receiver to win the Heisman Trophy in two decades, so it’s already been established that he’s an outlier. Smith was the pick that Miami should’ve made at #6, but he ended up falling to Philly, and as a result, he could see a massive workload in Year 1, giving him plenty of fantasy potential.

2. Javonte Williams (RB, Denver Broncos)

It’s possible Williams doesn’t produce for fantasy at the very beginning of the year, but once he becomes Denver’s starter, he could break out, much like Jonathan Taylor in 2020. Williams has an extremely dominant running style, and he was easily the best tackle-breaker in college football last year.

Williams’ ability to stay balanced and run defenders over is matched by very few players in the NFL. When you combine that ability with the fact that he’s also a solid pass-catcher, you get a complete three-down skill set, which could mean that Williams gets a heavy workload even in year one. Melvin Gordon is a talented player, but the Broncos traded up for Williams for a reason, and it’s because they know he has the potential to be a great running back. If Williams has any sort of consistent breakout in any part of the season, he could easily be worth it at his RB28 FantasyPros rank, and he could produce like an RB1 late in the year.

1. Kenny Golladay (WR, New York Giants)

Golladay’s WR23 FantasyPros ranking is truly a travesty, and his potential role in the Giants’ offense could genuinely make him a top-five fantasy receiver in 2021. This isn’t at all meant to say that Golladay will undoubtedly be top five, but him and Daniel Jones have the potential to make a connection that could be lethal for fantasy and real life.

As the clear #1 option in New York, there’s really no possible way that Golladay finishes outside of the top 24 fantasy receivers unless he gets injured, which basically shows that he is currently being drafted at his absolute floor. Even if Daniel Jones continues to be inconsistent, Golladay will still be the most reliable option for the Giants, so his target share would likely be enough to put him in WR2 territory anyway. However, there’s reason to believe that Jones will take a step up this year.

The addition of Golladay, an excellent contested-catch receiver, gives Jones a WR1 talent that he’s never had in his NFL career. On top of that, Jones graded out as NextGen Stats’ best deep-ball passer in 2020 (he went 19-39 with 636 yards, 5 TDs, no INTs, and a +14.8 completion percentage above expectation on 20+ air yard throws). Turnovers have been a problem for Jones at times, but he began to make smarter decisions (ex: not forcing as many throws) in 2020, and the Golladay signing will let him get away with more risky passes anyway.

As mentioned already, there is virtually no competition for downfield targets in this Giants offense. Golladay could easily see 150+ passes thrown his way this year, and a target share that high wouldn’t be surprising with Jones getting a dominating receiver for the first time in his career. Even if Jones falls short of his potential, Golladay is still good enough to perform at ADP. However, his potential and ceiling is very high, and if Jones is able to make a leap in Year 3, Golladay’s breakout could resemble the one we saw from 2020 Stefon Diggs.

The post Top Five Fantasy Values for 2021 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.